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PM covers a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all sections of Australia's geographically and culturally diverse community. It looks behind political, economic, industrial, business, social, cultural, rural, regional and arts stories. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

BHP announces profit turnaround

Australia's biggest resources company has announced a big turn around in half year profit. In the six months to December, BHP recorded an operating profit of $1 billion - up 148 per cent on last year. The company's shares soared on the news, closing 90 cents higher at $19.60. Diversified Resources analyst at BNP Equities, Tim Gerrard says the big Australian has turned the corner.

BHP shareholders relieved

Olympic budget cuts

It'll be a nervous night for many staff of the Sydney Organising Committee of the olympic Games at their Christmas party tonight. They've just found out up to $100 million will be slashed from SOCOG's budget. There are two main reasons for the cuts: the inability of SOCOG to get as many sponsors as they first hoped and the decision costing $35 million to ban non-sponsor companies from buying premium tickets.

Finding on UN's actions in Rwanda

The United Nations is being called on to apologise formally to the people of Rwanda after an inquiry found it failed to stop the 1994 genocide, in which nearly a million people were slaughtered in just 100 days. The independent inquiry found fault with the actions of the UN's top officals, including the then Head of Peacekeeping Operations, Kofi Annan. Mr Annan has today acknowledged the failure and expressed his deep remorse.

Russian politics and Chechnya

The European Union and the G8 group of the world's top nations are both threatening to isolate Russia if it keeps up its attack on the Chechen capital Grozny. The Russians are finding out in real life what any military staff college instructor could have told them: There are few places more difficult to take than a semi-ruined city defended by determined guerrilla fighters.

Chinese crackdown on Falungong

A group of Australians are among an international protest against the Chinese Government's ban on the spiritual movement Falungong. One Melbourne woman is recovering in Hong Kong tonight after breaking her leg while trying to escape detention in the Chinese capital. And three ethnic Chinese with Australian passports have been turned away from Macau, because the authorities there fear a protest during the handover this weekend to China.

Seafood prices set to skyrocket

Children and the justice system

The European Court of Human Rights has issued a ruling which is set to shake up Britain's legal system. The court has overturned the conviction of two 11-year-old boys over the murder of two-year-old James Bulger. The ruling won't overturn the guilty verdict, but it is predicted to shake up Britain's legal system in relation to the treatment of children. Childrens' law experts in Australia say the ruling should be ringing alarm bells in Australia because of the similarities between our legal systems.

Funerals without priests

If you're Catholic and live in far western New South Wales - don't expect a priest to bury you when you die. That's the message from the Bishop of Forbes-Wilcannia, who will soon be training ordinary churchgoers to conduct funeral ceremonies. While the practice of laypeople conducting funerals has been seen in the big cities for some time, it seems it's now starting to spread across country areas.